Help! Printing full sized plans at Staples?

[NicCf1]

Hey guys. I do not live near a staples so I will be stopping at one (Grand Rapids, MI) on the way to FF 2024 to print out the 7 full sized plans for the Guinea. I have the pdf loaded onto a usb stick. I can not afford to screw this up so what do I exactly ask for and what is a good price estimate?

 

[kdobson83]

I've done this a handful of times. I've always had them print off the full size plans using blue print paper in black and white only. I edit the PDF to cut out the pages I don't want printed like the intro page and the keys. You may be able to do this edit on their site. You only want them to print the actual parts. Depending on how many pages it is, I've seen anywhere from $12-$25. You should probably go to their website and set this up before you go. You can upload the file on their website, select what store you want, what kind of paper, all that good stuff. I always add the comment in the comment section that I need this printed at 100% scale. It'll give you the price, you pay, and they print. Then you pick it up when your going through. If you don't do this beforehand on their website there is a good chance you will be waiting a long time to have them print it if you just show up with the file. Make sure you ask them for a ruler when you pick it up and measure the scale key found on top of the plans to ensure it is indeed printed at 100% scale.

Also, with their print prices going up in the last couple years, I personally don't go this route anymore unless I am using the print to make permanent templates. I take these prints, do a quick rough cut and then spray glue them to poster board with 3M Super 77 spray glue, then do a fine cut with scissors. And blam, you now how permanent plans to make as many planes as you want quickly. When using these permanent plans, I use a few small pieces of tape to tape the part to the foam board, trace the outer edge, and then use a thumb tac to mark any folds/bevels/CG marks/etc. Then connect the lines with a ruler once template is removed, then cut out and pencil on any markings needed to complete the assembly of that part. I've made permanent plans of the Arrow, Tutor, Flyer, and Tiny Trainer. My 11 year old son is still fairly new and its nice to have perm plans laying around.

 

[To_many_planes]

What service and how to I edit the pdf?

 

[To_many_planes]

I've done this a handful of times. I've always had them print off the full size plans using blue print paper in black and white only. I edit the PDF to cut out the pages I don't want printed like the intro page and the keys. You may be able to do this edit on their site. You only want them to print the actual parts. Depending on how many pages it is, I've seen anywhere from $12-$25. You should probably go to their website and set this up before you go. You can upload the file on their website, select what store you want, what kind of paper, all that good stuff. I always add the comment in the comment section that I need this printed at 100% scale. It'll give you the price, you pay, and they print. Then you pick it up when your going through. If you don't do this beforehand on their website there is a good chance you will be waiting a long time to have them print it if you just show up with the file. Make sure you ask them for a ruler when you pick it up and measure the scale key found on top of the plans to ensure it is indeed printed at 100% scale.

Also, with their print prices going up in the last couple years, I personally don't go this route anymore unless I am using the print to make permanent templates. I take these prints, do a quick rough cut and then spray glue them to poster board with 3M Super 77 spray glue, then do a fine cut with scissors. And blam, you now how permanent plans to make as many planes as you want quickly. When using these permanent plans, I use a few small pieces of tape to tape the part to the foam board, trace the outer edge, and then use a thumb tac to mark any folds/bevels/CG marks/etc. Then connect the lines with a ruler once template is removed, then cut out and pencil on any markings needed to complete the assembly of that part. I've made permanent plans of the Arrow, Tutor, Flyer, and Tiny Trainer. My 11 year old son is still fairly new and its nice to have perm plans laying around.

What service and how to I edit the pdf?

Reply

 

[kdobson83]

This is to print the full size plans as blue print from Staples. Go to their print services page, select blue prints, upload your file, make sure you de-select scale to fit option, choose the paper size of 24x36. It should generate a preview of what it'll look like, make sure it looks good. Change ink type to black and white to save yourself some $$. Total comes out to $25.20 plus tax. So $4.20 per page. The PDF i used had all the intro pages deleted as well as the last page from the plans that only had the power pods on it (most scratch builders already have pods) as it seemed like a waste to pay $4.20 for the pods. So this Guinea full sized PDF is 6 pages minus the last page. It would be $29.40 if you wanted that last page too. I believe at this stage you can put the zip code of the area you want to pick up from and it should give you the option to pick your store at that point.

You can use any free online PDF program to delete pages from a PDF. I use pdfcandy.com or pdfescape.com. I use both at work and they both work great. PDFCandy works better but has a daily limit on how many you can edit, pdfescape does not have a limit but isnt as nice/compatible. I recommend PDFcandy if you only need the option to edit every so often.

Again, I highly recommend that you do this online order over just walking in as they might not be able to get right to your print. If you do this a few days ahead of time, it'll be there ready for you to pick it up when you drive through the area. I've done this method 3-4 times and never had an issue.

 

[kdobson83]

What service and how to I edit the pdf?

Reply

See above